In-Depth Notes on Long-Run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers by Seth Gershenson et al.

Long-Run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers

Key Findings
  • Increased Graduation Rates: Black students with at least one Black teacher in grades K–3 have:
    • 9 percentage points (13%) higher likelihood of graduating from high school.
  • Higher College Enrollment: These students are:
    • 6 percentage points (19%) more likely to enroll in college compared to their peers.
Importance of Findings
  • Educational Inequality: Racial gaps in educational attainment persist despite investments. Addressing these gaps can:
    • Enhance upward socioeconomic mobility.
    • Reduce overall societal costs associated with inequality, such as crime and health issues.
Mechanisms Explored
  • Role Model Effects: Black teachers may serve as role models, improving aspirations and behavior in Black students.
  • Teacher Race Impact: The effects were minimal on White students, indicating that the benefits of same-race teachers primarily benefit Black students.
  • Long vs. Short-Term Outcomes: The impacts do not always extrapolate; immediate educational inputs may not predict long-run outcomes.
  • Causality in Education: Utilized the Tennessee STAR experiment, showing randomized assignment of students to teachers helped establish causal estimates.
Data Sources
  • Tennessee STAR data linked with National Student Clearinghouse data for postsecondary educational outcomes.
  • North Carolina administrative data supported findings, reinforcing the importance of having Black teachers.
Student Demographics
  • The STAR study included a range of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a focus on how demographics influenced educational outcomes:
    • Sample consisted of 37% Black students, 53% male.
    • The rate of high school completion and college intent varied significantly across different student demographics.
Educational Pathways
  • The majority of increased postsecondary enrollments were in two-year colleges suggesting further study is needed into educational pathways and completion rates.
  • Potential for “Some College” category which refers to students enrolling but not completing four-year degrees.
Teacher Effectiveness
  • Black teachers were found to be more effective for Black students, possibly due to a combination of cultural relevance in pedagogy and the ability to relate and connect with students personally.
  • Teacher race was indicated as a potentially large factor affecting student outcomes, contrasting with the more nuanced results for White students.
Challenges and Considerations
  • Diversity in Teaching Supply: The study raises questions about the urgency of increasing racial diversity within the teaching profession, which has challenges related to hiring practices and teacher effectiveness.
  • Plan for Future Studies: Future research should seek to uncover the mechanisms of the effect of same-race teachers on students and how to better integrate findings into educational policy.
Conclusion
  • The evidence suggests that increasing the number of Black teachers can play a critical role in improving educational outcomes for Black students, which in turn may help reduce disparities in educational attainment.